Upon the Child, if he disturbed the sheep By catching at their legs, or with his shouts

175 Scared them, while they lay still beneath the shears.

And when by Heaven's good grace the boy grew up

A healthy Lad, and carried in his cheek
Two steady roses that were five years old;
Then Michael from a winter coppice cut
With his own hand a sapling, which he
hooped
181

With iron, making it throughout in all
Due requisites a perfect shepherd's staff,
And gave it to the Boy; wherewith equipt
He as a watchman oftentimes was placed
At gate or gap, to stem or turn the flock;
And, to his office prematurely called, 187
There stood the urchin, as you will divine,
Something between a hindrance and a
help;

And for this cause not always, I believe,
Receiving from his Father hire of praise;
Though nought was left undone which
staff, or voice,

Or looks, or threatening gestures, could A portion of his patrimonial fields. perform. Such was his first resolve; he thought

before

Were dearer now? that from the Boy

200

there came Feelings and emanations-things which

were

Light to the sun and music to the wind; And that the old Man's heart seemed born again?

of ours

230

Should pass into a stranger's hand, I think
That I could not lie quiet in my grave.
Our lot is a hard lot; the sun himself
Has scarcely been more diligent than I;
And I have lived to be a fool at last 235
To my own family. An evil man
That was, and made an evil choice, if he
Were false to us; and, if he were not false,

Thus in his Father's sight the Boy There are ten thousand to whom loss like

grew up:

And now, when he had reached his eighteenth year,

205 He was his comfort and his daily hope.

this

Had been no sorrow. I forgive him;but 2.40 "Twere better to be dumb than to talk thus.

When I began, my purpose was to These two days has been meat and drink speak

Of remedies and of a cheerful hope.
Our Luke shall leave us, Isabel; the land
Shall not go from us, and it shall be
free;

245

to me.

275 Far more than we have lost is left us yet. We have enough-I wish indeed that I Were younger;-but this hope is a good hope.

Make ready Luke's best garments, of the best

Buy for him more, and let us send him forth 280

To-morrow, or the next day, or to-night: If he could go, the Boy should go tonight."

Here Michael ceased, and to the fields went forth

With a light heart. The Housewife for five days

Was restless morn and night, and all day long

prepare

285

At this the old Man paused, 255 Wrought on with her best fingers to And Isabel sat silent, for her mind Was busy, looking back into past times. There's Richard Bateman, thought she to herself,

He was a parish-boy-at the church-door They made a gathering for him, shillings, pence,

260 And halfpennies, wherewith the neighbours bought

A basket, which they filled with pedlar's

wares;

Things needful for the journey of her son.
But Isabel was glad when Sunday came
To stop her in her work: for, when she lay
By Michael's side, she through the last
two nights

290

Heard him, how he was troubled in his sleep:

And when they rose at morning she could see

That all his hopes were gone. That day

at noon

themselves

And, with this basket on his arm, the lad
Went up to London, found a master there, She said to Luke, while they two by
Who, out of many, chose the trusty boy
To go and overlook his merchandise 266
Beyond the seas; where he grew won-
drous rich,

scheme

Were sitting at the door, "Thou must not go:

295

We have no other Child but thee to lose,
None to remember-do not go away,
For if thou leave thy Father he will die."
The Youth made answer with a jocund
voice;

And Isabel, when she had told her fears,
Recovered heart. That evening her best
fare

301

Did she bring forth, and all together sat
Like happy people round a Christmas fire.

With daylight Isabel resumed her work;

And thus resumed:-"Well, Isabel! this And all the ensuing week the house

As cheerful as a grove in Spring: at length On things thou canst not know of.

The expected letter from their kinsman

He might be sent to him. Ten times or Then fell upon thee. Day by day passed

When thou art from me, even if I should As all their Forefathers had done; and,

At length their time was come, they were To leave me, Luke: thou hast been bound not loth

To give their bodies to the family mould.

I wished that thou shouldst live the life
they lived,
371

But 'tis a long time to look back, my
Son,

to me

400

Only by links of love: when thou art
gone,

What will be left to us !-But I forget
My purposes. Lay now the corner-stone,
As I requested; and hereafter, Luke,

men

And see so little gain from threescore When thou art gone away, should evil years. 405 These fields were burthened when they Be thy companions, think of me, my Son, And of this moment; hither turn thy

came to me;

Till I was forty years of age, not more 375
Than half of my inheritance was mine.
I toiled and toiled; God blessed me in
my work,

And till these three weeks past the land
was free.

-It looks as if it never could endure
Another Master. Heaven forgive me,
Luke,
380

If I judge ill for thee, but it seems good
That thou shouldst go."

At this the old Man paused; Then, pointing to the stones near which they stood,

Thus, after a short silence, he resumed:

Nay, Boy, be of good hope; we both | And, as his Father had requested, laid may live The first stone of the Sheep-fold. At the sight 420

To see a better day. At eighty-four

I still am strong and hale;-do thou thy part;

390

I will do mine.-I will begin again
With many tasks that were resigned to

thee:

The old Man's grief broke from him; to his heart

He pressed his Son, he kissed him and wept ;

And to the house together they returned. Up to the heights, and in among the -Hushed was that House in peace, or

storms,

Will I without thee go again, and do 394
All works which I was wont to do alone,
Before I knew thy face.-Heaven bless

thee, Boy!

seeming peace,

Ere the night fell:-with morrow's dawn the Boy 425 Began his journey, and, when he had reached

Thy heart these two weeks has been beat- The public way, he put on a bold face; ing fast

With many hopes; it should be so-yes

yes

I knew that thou couldst never have a wish

A good report did from their Kinsman That many and many a day he thither went,
And never lifted up a single stone.

His flock had need. 'Tis not forgotten A just repayment, both for conscience